For Men in the Ministry

Pastoral Helps

Proverbs has a great principle for farmers that I am convinced is helpful for ministers also: He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread (Prov. 12:11). Permit me to apply it this way: he that immerses himself in the study of the Scripture will feed his own soul and have plenty to share with others.

I think one reason we do not make a plan is that we are afraid of it. If we announce a series on the book of Philippians, we know that commits us to fairly serious study, especially if we have never really studied the book in depth before. So rather than commit ourselves to a plan, we plan to do things last minute. In the end, we are the real loser and we have robbed ourselves (not to mention our congregation) of great spiritual blessing.

Are we not primarily a minister of God’s Word? Does that not primarily mean that we need to study what our God has said to us so that we know what He says, how He says it, and why He says it to us? This is not our option; this is at the heart of our duty and calling. And we miss the joy of eating our own bread when we refuse to really tillthe ground of Scripture for ourselves.

As Israel spirals downward into chaos, anarchy, and disunity, without the needed Godly leadership to right the nation on its feet, Ruth reveals that even during that very time of anarchy God was at work in surprising ways to provide that much-needed leadership through the house of David.

The story of Ruth is a timeless story of hope, as a redeeming God shows His sovereignty through surprising acts of kindness to bring hope out of hopelessness. The birth of Naomi’s “redeemer” not only delivers her, but will also provide the King through whom God will deliver Israel and—ultimately—the world.